Pondering On Pedestals

Thank you Lord for all great things;
The Earth, the sky, the stars up high.
I wonder sometimes am I worthy to be here,
On a beautiful earth with so many wonders.

Thank you so much Lord for all the great things,

It's beyond my comprehension.

I'm grateful to Kevin and his desire to help us know more of who and what a prophet is. I think it is summed up quite nicely in Amos 3:7 from the Old Testament, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secrets unto His servants the prophets".

If Jesus Christ is the "same yesterday, and to day, and for ever", as spoken of in Hebrews 13:8, and speaks to "His servants the prophets", then He would indeed do so now, and He surely does.

I felt confirmation through the Holy Ghost as I heard our current Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, speak last weekend at General Conference - he is the Lord's servant on the earth today and God who is "the same yesterday, today, and for ever," does reveal His secrets unto His servant Thomas S. Monson.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke last April in General Conference. He said, "This gospel does not come from man. The doctrine of the church is not someone's best guess as to the meaning of ancient scripture. It is the truth of heaven revealed by God Himself. I have witnessed with my own and joyfully testify in our day, God speaks through His prophet,seer,and revelator, even Thomas S. Monson" (we are doing a great work and cannot come down,general conference april 2009)

We were told a story in sunday school of a pathologist by the name of John B. Andelin. John Andelin, born in 1951, is a self taught sculptor specializing in realistic figurative works. He began woodcarving as a hobby at the age of 15.

Later he developed a passion for woodworking which he pursued for many years. In 1993 he began to develop a serious interest in wood sculpture and progressed rapidly.  In 1995 he carved his first marble figure. He is self-taught because the art of realistic marble sculpture has largely been lost.

There is little room for error. Thus, the art of realistic classical stone sculpture has dwindled in popularity over the years.He believes that his training in science and anatomy has added a unique perspective to his art.

In this story the first marble figure this remarkable man sculpted was a larger than life size bust of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Unknown to him, John's friends submitted pictures of this statue to an LDS church art organization. Sometime later he received a call from Elder Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Packer asked John to meet with him in his office. So John flew from North Dakota to Salt Lake City to meet with this apostle and prophet of the Lord.

When finally he sat down in Elder Packer's office, Elder Packer pulled out a folder. Inside the folder were pictures of the statue they submitted. Elder Packer told John that his statue was the closest anyone had gotten to Christ's true likeness. That statue was purchased from John and placed in a hallway on the floor where the first presidency and the twelve meet each week.

You can look at more work of John B. Andelin at Heroic Marble

Now, how do you think Elder Packer knew that statue was the closest anyone had gotten to what Jesus Christ really looked like? I think the answer is quite clear.

I want to close with my testimony that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God and that there is a living prophet at the head of the church today. God does speak to His servants today for the benefit of man. I echo the words of Alma, "is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of His coming, or- as after the time of His coming" Alma 38:17,18.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Picture borrowed from http://www.heroicmarble.com/BC2.html

The last time I spoke on missionary principles we talked about how God reveals His Gospel in every dispensation through prophets and since then we have talked about other things but I was thinking that there is a chance that somebody is reading  our discussions and doesn't understand what a prophet is.

There is a good chance I don't fully understand what a prophet is and so maybe some readers can send links to articles and scriptures to put more of a definition on prophet.

Currently we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sustain 15 prophets, seers, and revelators. Mosiah 8:13-18 gives a good explanation of a seer and therefore explains prophets and revelators.

We can learn from Acts 10:34-43 that prophets are witnesses of Christ and are commanded to preach unto the people.

Jacob 4:4, 6 teaches us that prophets know of Christ, have the Spirit of Prophecy, and have the power and authority to act (or command) in the name of Christ.

That last part is important - having the power (the Priesthood) and authority to act in the name of Christ. There are millions of Priesthood holders on the face of the earth (not an actual count but with 13 million members of the church I figured it was a safe bet) but only one with all the authority on earth today.

Thomas S. Monson is that person, the President of the Church, given the authority to speak for the Church on behalf of the Lord.

I give you my testimony that God is alive and that He speaks to us through the prophets - the world has had its famine of the word of God and now is a time to feast. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a blessing because no longer do we need to guess and stumble in our understanding. God loves us.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

So what are your thoughts? Did I leave out a crucial parts? Tonight was intended as a launch pad for others to go learn more about prophets but we can always add it right here or to another post later in time.

Last week, I was reading my scriptures and thinking about different things - mainly about Christ, the Atonement, and peoples reactions to the Atonement - and for one reason or another got hung up on the words redeeming, redemption, redeem, and then finally redeemer. I realized I had never read the definition of these words and while I knew what they meant in a general sense I wanted to make sure I understood them completely.

Today, I was looking for something to talk about - lots of things to say but not one stuck in my mind - and then I noticed my little yellow notepad, where I wrote the definitions to three of those words.

I'd like to share those with you so you can remember these words and hold them fast in your minds and maybe understand a little more of the Atonement.

I can see a correlation of this definition and the Atonement, repentance, and  the resurrection.

Another way of saying that would be, "to counterbalance a shortcoming," or, "to satisfy a lack or want." 

Doesn't Christ, our Redeemer, do this very thing? What was the ransom paid? How are we released from blame or debt? To whom did we owe and to who do we now belong? How distressing and harmul was our situation, if it were not for that Great Redeemer?

I like how the scriptures say we are bought with a price and not, "you will be bought with a price when you accept Jesus Christ as your Redeemer." We are bought with a price; whether we believe in Christ or not, whether we think it is fair or not, we have been purchased and and we are not our own.

What redemption occurs if we are simply removed from our awful situation, if we don't learn and become something better?

No, I didn't do much straightforward speaking tonight and maybe I should of but I think this was appropriate and I hope it got you thinking - I hope you'll share with us your thoughts in the comments.

I would like to say something to those of us -to all of us, really- who would not take a part of the Grace and Mercies of our God, those who try and run from the Atonement, saying that it is a hard thing, or an unfair thing, required of our Elder Brother: the price has been paid, that work is done, and there is no return receipt.

We should rejoice and accept this marvelous gift with thankful hearts and not throw it in our Savior's face because of the cost of the gift. I hope we can and will resolve today to stop living in guilt and instead live our lives to show our appreciation.

We do not earn God's love, God's love earns us.

I testify that God does love us and shows us that love constantly, I know that Christ is my Savior and Redeemer - and for all mankind. He is the only way a man can pass through the gate, He is our king, our advocate, and our judge. We are loved. A way has been provided - the road is narrow but it is also strait and plain.

I leave these things with you, in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Something that has affected me lately is the need to remember to be patient in trials. In such a fast passed, greedy world, we have learned to want things right then and there. However, the Lord does not work that way. The Lord works on a different time table than the rest of us do. As is found in Isaiah 55: 8-9:

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

He gives us trials to test us, and part of that trial is endurance. Sometimes we feel like these trials become too much and we might become upset, angry and unsure of where to turn. At times, life just seems to be a never ending mind field of tribulation and despair.

Of course, we must then remember that even Christ our Lord, the most perfect and special of us all, was forced to endure unimaginable suffering. If he endured such trials, why should we expect to be free of them? Furthermore, not only did he simply endure them, he endured them with a perfect patience and understanding.

During our times of adversity and stress, patience can be a helpful companion to those who “feel abandoned by the caravan of life as it moves relentlessly onward and then disappears beyond the sight of those who ponder, who wonder, and who sometimes question as they are left alone with their thoughts” (Thomas S. Monson, “Patience, a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Sep 2002, 2–7).

We have all felt this way at some time. Just this past week I myself was caught up in personal adversity and stress while lacking patience, and as a result peace and understanding. When we are patient in our adversities and have a desire to understand how they are to benefit our lives, we find ourselves able to be at peace because we are putting ourselves in the Lord’s hands instead of denying him.

If the way be full of trial; Weary not!
If it’s one of sore denial, Weary not!
If it now be one of weeping,
There will come a joyous greeting,
When the harvest we are reaping—Weary not!

Do not weary by the way,
Whatever be thy lot;
There awaits a brighter day
To all, to all who weary not!

(“If the Way be Full of Trial, Weary Not,” Deseret Sunday School Songs (1909), no. 158)

We must trust in God to not submit us to more than we can possibly handle. When things get too hard we must remember to have the humility to submit ourselves to the Lord for guidance and direction, and then endure the trial with the proper patience and faith knowing our obstacle is just part of the path he has for us. He wants us to stop, listen, and turn to him. The Lord is always there for us, and invites us to: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”(Matthew 11:28)

The Savior was the perfect example of patience who

“… bore the sorrows of the world, who patiently suffered excruciating pain and disappointment, but who, with silent step of His sandaled feet, passed by a man who was blind from birth, restoring his sight. He approached the grieving widow of Nain and raised her son from the dead. He trudged up Calvary’s steep slope, carrying His own cruel cross, undistracted by the constant jeers and taunting that accompanied His every step. For He had an appointment with divine destiny…”

“His life is the flawless example of one afflicted with sorrows and disappointments, who nonetheless provided the example of forgetting self and serving others.” (Thomas S. Monson, “Patience, a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Sep 2002, 2–7)

Paul declared to the Hebrews, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”(Hebrews 12:1)

Joseph Smith as well is an example of patience. He endured criticism for his beliefs for three years after the Father and the Son appeared to him before he saw Moroni, and even then had to be patient and faithful to what he knew was true before he could begin to complete the work which was prepared for him to do. Even before he organized the Latter-Day church, Joseph Smith had to endure great adversity and exercise great faith and patience in order to remain faithful to the Lord. Without his faith and patience we could have all been lost in the latter-days before we’d even begun to be saved.

The scriptures are also our guide when we are lost and our constant reminder of God’s love for us and that he is always there for us no matter what. These precious words may sometimes be our only solace when we begin to feel ourselves traveling down an unknown, unending road of tribulation. There is always an answer. Even in the darkest gloom, if you simply have the patience and the humility to put yourself in God’s hand and follow his plan for you then you will find some solution somehow.

It may not be immediate, but it will occur. I’ve seen this in my own life and so can testify of this. God loves us all and would not lead us astray to fend for ourselves with no hope of getting back on the path. We need merely seek him out diligently and devotedly. Patience will bring the Saints their reward.

I will conclude by bearing my testimony that I know that the Lord is there for us when we need him the most no matter what we may have done, or may be suffering. If we can put off our pride and submit to his will like a child to their father we can know peace and happiness. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The captains and the kings depart.
Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget, lest we forget

Rudyard Kipling’s “Recessional”

(I used President Monson’s “Patience, a Heavenly Virtue,” Ensign, Sep 2002, 2–7 as a resource during the process of writing this blog)

Institute was tonight, with Brother Sullivan, and we were led, by the class and their questions, into an interesting discussion on eternal life and forever families. The main question was in effect, "how will someone's mom and her daughters be sealed without a worthy husband."

The answer was that through the righteousness of that person's mom, herself, and sisters a way would be provided. Now no one could provide a scripture reference that addressed this specific topic; therefore, the answer could not be fully realized at the time, but I am diligently looking to understand as much as I can on the workings of special circumstances.

I know there is a plan for these circumstances because I know my Heavenly Father is perfect and that He created and set into motion a plan for us from before the world was. I do not know the how -still looking, if for nothing else than pure enjoyment- but I do know that the Lord knows.

Another thing I know is, that God has revealed everything to us that is expedient for us to know at this time. We know that we have a work to do, we know how we are to do that work, and we know that we need the Lord, and that He has covenanted with us that if we are true to our covenants a way will be provided.

What don't we know? In some or most of the cases we don't fully understand how the Lord will do what needs doing, but that is where faith steps in - where we need to believe Christ.

To those who might desire to study more on this subject you might find the talk I read by Elder LeGrand Richards, entitled "What After Death," interesting and insightful. It deals with the death of children primarily; however, I found insight into my questions as well.

I thought this post was appropriate to a few of my early discussions where it seems the main theme could be summed up as being "Heavenly Father Loves Us All," and that love is manifested in the fact there is a plan for you and me.

That God knows us by name, He knows our personalities and talents, our quirks and weaknesses and He has provided a way. When i look out on a clear night and see just the limited view of my mortal eyes, it amazes me that He cares for me and knows me. I love Him because He loves me.

My main thought in institute tonight was a scripture and I'm not sure I found the exact one I was looking for, but there many to choose from, I will leave you with a quote from D&C 3:1 -

"The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught."

Photo of family borrowed from http://www.ora.ucr.edu/images/pictures/centers/FamilyStudies.jpg

Yesterday, Anne posted on how to find peace in our lives and the gospel plays a very big role in our inner peace - the world can tumble to the ground, shake with all ferocity and as long as I hold true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ I know that I will have peace and today's General Conference really made me think about that.

There is going to be a lot of good talks for us to examine and I hope myself and the rest of the team will strive to focus on the talks of this General Conference for the next six months, we'll see.

I thought I would post something about my new favorite scripture I found today but have decided I would rather keep my thoughts on this weekend's events.

Something I realized was that I heard a lot of the love word today and then counsel to put away anger. I can't help but wonder what it is the prophets see and why the Spirit directed them to share with us these messages at this time, I also heard a lot about repenting but I guess that is standard.

So, how about you - did you hear any particular topic touched upon that struck a note of pondering? Who's talk did you enjoy most and why?

Well, with so much worry and stress that's in the economy these days, I would like to comment about "peace." They don't talk about it very much on the news, and they don't talk about too much on the radio either.

There are some ways of achieving peace. For example, you could hug a tree, or hold a cat, or talk to a family member who you really trust more than anyone else. But how about achieving everlasting peace that you can have, in your heart.

Some references to Jesus Christ, in the talk by President Monson, brought light to some of the commandments that Jesus meant for all of us. I'll just mention some of them from President Monson's talk.

In the sermon on the mount, the Savior declared "Judge not."

At a later time He admonished, "Cease to find fault one with another."


I believe that Jesus Christ wants for all of us to be saved from the hate and vicious evils that are in this world, and that Thomas S. Monson truly helps us to know what Jesus wants for us in these latter days. I love Jesus, I love the prophet, and I love Jesus Christ's church. May we have courage and strength to establish more peace here on earth, and be true disciples of Jesus Christ. I believe that as we follow the commandments, we can have more peace and more of God's Kingdom here on earth.

Greetings one and all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It has become my honor and privilege to be part of this blog and share some doctrinal truths with you that have been a source of warmth and inspiration in my life.

What I desire to share with you today is taken from a talk that I have read and listened to several times. It was a General Conference address given in October 2003 by one of my favorite living apostles, Jeffrey R. Holland, called "The Grandeur of God." I highly recommend you read or listen to it in its entirety.

I will give credit to Elder Holland's words from his talk by marking them with asterisks. Any additional commentary has been added by yours truly.

* In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven. He did this at least in part because then and now all of us need to know God more fully in order to love Him more deeply and obey Him more completely.*

* Little wonder then that the Prophet Joseph Smith taught: "It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God. I want you all to know Him," he said, "and to be familiar with Him." We must have "a correct idea of His... perfections and attributes," an admiration for "the excellency of [His] character." Thus the first phrase we utter in the declaration of our faith is, "We believe in God, the Eternal Father." *

How utterly necessary it seems that in order to truly know ourselves and catch even a glimpse of the grandeur we are capable of, we must know of a certainty the character of God.

We have been taught through modern day revelation that Heavenly Father and His Son, even Jesus Christ are two separate glorified being sof flesh and bone. We were created after their image, right? Yes, absolutely!

In His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ was trying to show us the love and compassion Heavenly Father had for us as well as His own.

* So, emphatically, did Jesus. Even as He acknowledged His own singular role in the divine plan, the Savior nevertheless insisted on this prayerful preamble: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God." *

* "The Father... doeth the works," He said in earnest. "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." John 14:10; 5:19

On another occasion He said: "I speak that which I have seen with my Father." "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me." "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me." John 8:38, 28; 6:38 *

Another question comes to mind that takes us back to Joseph Smith's quote, how can we know of a certainty the character of God? Is this possible? Yes!

It does not come easy but if it is one of the first principles to have a correct idea of His perfections and attributes and admire the excellency of His character then we can't expect to progress further in this gospel without this eternally valuable building block.

We do this through daily personal prayer. How can you know for a certainty who God is if you don't converse with Him constantly and sincerely.

We do this through reading about and emulating the works of Jesus Christ! Remember, "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me." "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me."

How can you have a correct idea of His perfections and attributes if you don't do your best to practice them. I believe you will most definitely be able to admire the excellency of His character as it becomes a part of your character.

I challenge you to seek after this talk. Read or listen to it because there is so much in it we could break down, analyze, and talk about but for the sake of my poor hands let me close by sharing part of Elder Holland's testimony as well as my own.

* I bear personal witness this day of a personal, living God, who knows our names, hears and answers prayers, and cherishes us eternally as children of His spirit. I testify that amidst the wondrously complex tasks inherent in the universe, He seek our individual happiness and safety above all other godly concerns. We are created in His very image and likeness, and Jesus of Nazareth, His Only Begotten Son in the flesh, came to earth as the perfect mortal manifestation of His grandeur. *

I add my own testimony to that of Elder Holland's. I humbly testify that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I bear witness that in an ever crumbling society that is constantly changing by war, greed, and all manners of iniquity whirling around us -like an all consuming tornado- that God has afforded us a calm and constant protection in the eye of the tornado. That protection is provided to us in the form of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

He has paid the price for our sins. He is the advocate with the Father and the only way to get back to our Heavenly Father's presence is in and through the merits of Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save!

I am so thankful for the knowledge that even though I'm so very, very weak and make so many mistakes and have fallen down so many times in my life; when I humble myself to the depths of humility and cry out to my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ, I find His hand outstretched ever still.

In the words of that great hymn, "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me..." Oh, it is indeed wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me. There is no greater love. When you have your moments of weakness, picture His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt and I assure you such mercy, such love, and devotion you will not forget.

So, Kevin has posted some amazing things on this blog in the last week and it has been decided that tonight he would pass the torch to me to write something. It’s a bit of an intimidating spot to be placed in but I’ll do what I can. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to write for my first entry and was quite tempted to cop out of the responsibility and just post an essay that I wrote for a religions class a few months ago. Instead I decided to select a topic and go from there. If only it were so easy. I must have started to write this entry a dozen different times and a dozen different ways. In the end, I think I’m going to comment about Moses 4, which was talked about at the Longview institute last week.

Chapter four is about how Satan became the devil and the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Now, what follows could just be gospel according to Jennifer but, when we were discussing these verses several interesting points about the War in Heaven and the Fall were brought up.

1. War in Heaven:

Let’s reread a verse we’ve all read a hundred times but then look at it in a new light:

“And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying – Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” (Moses 4:1)

At the council in Heaven they were holding a council to choose which savior to send to redeem mankind and how they would do so. The two who volunteered for the job as we know were Christ and Satan. Something I’m not sure we ever really think about though, is that when Satan says “give me thine honor”, he is essentially asking to be God himself and by himself. With him as the savior he would have denied us our agency, that which would have allowed us to become gods. We would have been unable to gain the knowledge that would have allowed us to become like our Father in Heaven. We were also taught in this institute class that in the pre - existence we had agency. We could sin. This is aptly shown when 1/3 the hosts of Heaven sinned and rebelled against their God and their father for Satan. In doing so they may as well have said “we don’t want Heavenly Father to be God”.

2. The Fall:

Satan works in steps. He deceives, then he blinds, and then he holds you captive. He tried to do just this with Eve. He sought to beguile her, not knowing God’s plan, and tried to destroy the world. He sought to deceive Eve by feeding her half – truths about the nature of the fruit that God had forbidden her to eat. He tried to make God out to be a jealous man, not wanting them to eat the fruit because if they did they would have knowledge of good and evil. Of course he was lying about God being jealous, but he wasn’t about the knowledge she would gain. He continued to try and entice her with sweet notions about the fruit for an unknown amount of time. The forbidden fruit that had been once so uninteresting to her, was now “pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise”. Satan had blinded her. If it weren’t for the knowledge of the gospel continually being taught to her and her husband, Eve would have been held captive by the devil. However, Eve grew to understand what needed to be done and broke the law.

If partaking of the tree hadn’t been part of God’s plan all along, Eve could have found herself a captive of Satan. We to can be led astray by Satan through deception and blindness until we become so immune to the things of the world that we shouldn’t partake of that we do it automatically and without reserve. Things like lying, drugs, and pornography are only a few of the things Satan wraps in pretty little bows to lead us into damnation. We have God on our side. He knows what is in our mind and if we seek after him in favor of the deceptions of Satan we cannot falter. Being blind to the light and will of Christ is a scary place to be; so hold fast to the truth and you will be free.

Do you think of your dad, who for most has shown great love towards you? Or do you think of an awesome "father figure" that has been there when you needed him, given really good advice and helped you out of a sticky situation - not for any gain of his own but just because he cared about you being happy?

For me my mind goes to a lot of different places and each one has had impact on my life for the better.

The thing is when we hear the words Heavenly Father some of us put heaven at a distance and thus think that the title Heavenly Father is has a distant, metaphorical implication and that is why I want to address how literal "Heavenly Father" is and what that means to us in our lives.

We are all sons and daughters of God, He is the father of our spirits - which existed before the creation of the earth. In us are seeds of divinity.

The Apostle Paul taught, "... for we are also His offspring." (Acts 27:28) And then again to the Romans saying, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God..." (Romans 8:16)

Paul isn't the only one who taught that we are children of God, Jesus Christ Himself taught this when he associated Heavenly Father with an earthly father. (Matt. 7:9-11 3 Nephi 14:9-11)

Now that we have established the literalness of Heavenly Father's title, we can now ask what does it matter to me? What changes or why should I care?

I'd like for you to take a second and read Matt. 7:9-11 then think about your father, or father figure and say to yourself, "if he is imperfect and loves me this much, cares for me this much, or wants me to be happy - how much more does my Perfect Father?"

This also ties in neatly with my last post in that we know God loves us and wants us to be happy; therefore, we can face our trials more confidently.


When you are hungry what is a stone to you? Useless, sure if an animal were around you might be able to throw the stone and kill the thing for food but for the most part a stone is useless when someone is hungry.

How about a serpent when asked for a fish? Dangerous. I ask you for a fish and you give me a basket with a serpent in it and I unknowingly reach in expecting a rainbow trout...

Our Heavenly Father does not give us useless and dangerous things, those would be evil gifts and God is not the giver of an evil gift. So those trials you are facing, that have come by reason of the Fall of Adam (which we will talk about later), which fall was planned so that we might be happy... they aren't useless brothers and sisters and when we are living righteously they aren't dangerous either - not dangerous in the sense that really matters, many of God's servants have suffered death for their testimonies.

I wanted to talk about one last scripture and then I will be done. In Acts 27:29 Paul says, "... as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

Obviously Paul is talking about idols and idol worship here, but a thought came to me as I read "we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold..." and the thought was what is gold like?

Cold and lifeless. When we're having a bad day does our gold watch, or any substance like gold, cry for us? No. Does it care about our feelings, hopes, and desires... I've never a conversation with gold but I don't think so.

If you want to know how God feels about us and the things that affect us, I would think the best way would be to look towards the man who is most "perfect" in your life and see how they care and then know that God is perfect and cares exponentially more.

I bear my testimony that God is our Heavenly Father and that He loves us dearly and wants for us to choose to come back home, He has provided a way through His Son that we may. This is in my knowledge.

To which Nephi answers with something he knows and something he doesn't know, "And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (Verse 17)

I know that I'm taking his answer out of context but when I think on the talk of "Be of Good Cheer" I think of Nephi's answer because that verse has always meant to me, "why things are the way they are I'm not sure or why I have to suffer affliction I don't understand, but I do know that God loves His children and that will get me through anything."

I personally feel like I've had some affliction in my life and there have been times where I have not been very receptive of said affliction and have fought tooth and nail, bitter because of my lot.

However; looking back in each of those occassions it has been me recognizing that my Heavenly Father does love me and that He has a plan for me and that He sent my Eldest Brother to be my Savior and Redeemer and to prepare a way for me that I might return to live with Him once again - it has been recognizing this fact that has gotten me through the "worst."

Another talk that came to mind, as I was listening the recording of President Monson giving his talk, was a talk given at the funeral service of President Gordon B. Hinckley by President Henry B. Eyering where he quotes President Hinckley as oft saying, "Oh, things will work out."

It requires much faith to face the things of the world and realise that our Heavenly Father is not the giver of any evil gift and with that knowledge face our obstacles with hope and no ill thought, looking towards the future, knowing that things will work for our good.

May I close with words which Christ spoke long ago, quoted in John 16:33:

"These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Well, I was hoping I would of thought of something to talk about today but I couldn't really think of anything I felt right saying on here, at this time.

I was able to attend the Temple in Dallas today and that was amazing if you ask me - I have rarely in my life been that at peace. But I'm not going to talk about Temples today, they're important and so one day I'll pull up a few talks on the Why of Temples and other such things but that won't be today.

Any way I was thinking and strangely enough I couldn't think of one "spiritual thought" and that is strange because when it comes to talking about the Gospel I always have something I find interesting to say or point out.

Maybe I'm just nervous because there I realize in my mind that there are over a million potential readers on at this very moment.

So this is what I've decided to be very important for you to know, at least when talking or associating with me. I'm going to bear you my testimony and that is something very precious to me because I've worked at gaining this testimony.

When I say I know I don't mean that I know my parents know, that I know my Bishop knows, or even that I know the Prophets know; rather, I mean that I know.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I believe in the Jesus Christ prophesied of in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, spoken of in the Four Gospels from the New Testament in the the Holy Bible, and preached about by the Apostles in the New Testament after Christ was crucified.

He, Jesus Christ, is the Only Begotten of Our Heavenly Father In The Flesh - quite literally the Son of God. Without Him I am doomed to everlasting misery but because of Him and The Atonement, which Heavenly Father planned for us and Jesus Christ provided, I can have everlasting happiness.

Because of His mercy I will not get what I deserve and because of His grace I have hope to obtain the things I do not deserve. I love Him.

I've spoken of the Old and New Testament from the Holy Bible, which I know to be the Word of God, now I would like to speak of Another Testament of Jesus Christ - even the Book of Mormon. I have read and witness that the Book of Mormon is true scripture and not just a good book. This book of scripture has been brought back to the earth by the wisdom of the LORD. Translated by Joseph Smith Jr. but not written by him, the Book of Mormon contains writings of much more ancient prophets.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth today, it has been restored! The priesthood dwells with men, again! Prophets live on earth today and the LORD speaks to us through them! This has been brought to pass by the Hand of God, with Joseph Smith Jr. as an instrument in that Hand. To think it all started with the prayer of a 14 year old boy.

I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father for the blessings that are in my life; my family; the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Atonement; Prophets; Revelation; Priesthood; the Plan that I know my Heavenly Father has for me... is there anything I've not been given? I love my Heavenly Father and I know He loves me.

And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.